IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

What and where is the Department of Residence Services? -   The Department of Residence Services houses offices for all the professional staff employees.  These employees handle billing, room assignments, and many other things related to on-campus housing.  The Department of Residence Services is located on the first floor of Holderby Hall and is open from 8 am-5 pm Monday through Friday.  Please feel free to stop in or contact us at (304) 696-6765.

How do I check in to my room? – You will receive a room assignment through the mail before arriving to check in.  You must go to your assigned building and check in with a Resident Advisor. Go to the front desk and tell the person working there that you need to move in.  Checking in consists of filling out a personal data card, mailbox key control card, room key control card, loan key card and a signature release form.  Each form will be explained to you at the time of check in.  You will receive your room key and mailbox key.  The Resident Advisor will do a Room Condition Report that lists every item in the room and the condition of it.  Please be sure to examine the room and Room Condition Report carefully and note any damages on the report that the Resident Advisor overlooked.  At check-out, a Resident Advisor will use the same Room Condition Report to compare new damages to what was listed as damages during check-in.  If there are new problems listed you will be billed to fix or replace the item.  So make sure the Room Condition Report has been done thoroughly and completely.

What do I need to bring? - Click on the link below to see what you should and should not bring to the residence halls: http://www.marshall.edu/residence-services/movein.html

What is a Residence Hall Guide? -  A Residence Hall Guide will be placed in your room prior to your arrival or be given to you at check-in.  It is a booklet containing all of the policies and procedures that the Department of Residence Services holds you responsible for, such as alcohol, quiet hours, hygiene, prohibited items, solicitation, trespassing, and visitation.  Individuals are written up when in violation of any of the policies and procedures.  Please make sure to read this booklet thoroughly as you will be held accountable for its contents. If you do not recieve a Residence Hall Guide upon checking in, please request one from your RA.

What does it mean to be written up? - When residents are in violation of the Residence Hall Guide they can be written up, in one of two ways: by a member of our staff or by another resident.  When a resident is written up, they are charged with violating the Residence Hall Guide.  The resident can challenge this charge if they feel they were not in violation of the Residence Hall Guide. If the resident is found to be in violation of the Residence Hall Guide a sanction will follow.  In the sanction 1-6 points will be given depending on the severity of the violation.  An accumulation of six points in any academic year shall result in cancellation of the student's housing contract or, for non-residents, cancellation of visitation privileges. For more information on the judicial process and how to challenge a sanction, see your Resident Director.

What is a Resident Advisor (RA)? – A Resident Advisor is an undergraduate or graduate student employed by the university to supervise a floor.  Some of the Resident Advisors’ responsibilities include answering residents’ questions, planning programs, enforcing policies and procedures, completing duty walks, being aware of maintenance issues and reporting them, serving as an informative resource for residents, etc.  There is one Resident Advisor assigned per floor.  If you have any questions or problems, please feel free to contact your Resident Advisor.  There will be signs on your floor with the Residence Advisor’s contact information.

What is a Resident Director (RD)? - A Resident Director is a graduate student employed by the university to supervise the Resident Advisors and make sure that things are running smoothly in their assigned buildings.  The Resident Directors keep office hours during the week.  Feel free to call the front desk and make an appointment if you have any comments or concerns.  Their office hours are posted on their office door or at the front desk.  There will be signs on your floor with the Resident Director’s contact information.

What is a Desk Coordinator (DC)? -  A Desk Coordinator works from 7:45 am to 4:15 pm Monday through Friday.  Desk Coordinators are employed at the front desk in each residence hall.  They are responsible for handling mail, keys for each hall, and serving as assistants to the Resident Directors.

Where are the cafeterias? - There are three cafeterias located on campus.  The Twin Towers Cafeteria is located between Twin Towers West and Twin Towers East.  The Harless Hall Cafeteria is located near Marshall Commons.  Towers Cafeteria and Harless Hall Cafeteria is an all you can eat buffet with the meal plan you purchased with your housing.  The Student Center is located near the Drinko Library.  The Student Center consists of Pizza Hut Express, Chick-Fil-A, Deli Signatures, Copper Pot Soups, Fresh Inspirations and All that Jazz Salads.  The meal plan may be used during certain hours in the Student Center.  There is a cash equivalency established for each meal.  If you go over the amount, you must pay cash or use your Herd Points to make up the difference.  You may deposit money into your Herd Points account in the Student Center, Twin Towers West and Harless Hall.  For the hours of the cafeteria or the menu, please go to: http:/www.marshall.edu/residence-services/currdining.html  If you any problems with the food service or a cafeteria, talk with your RA or RD about it. You will need your student ID to eat in the cafeterias.

What do I do if I lock myself out of my room? - If you lock yourself out of your room, you may go to the front desk and check out a loan key.  Please remember to bring a form of ID to the front desk.  The loan key can be checked out for up to 24 hours.  If the loan key is kept for over 24 hours there will be a charge.  Also, if the loan key is checked out more than five times a semester, there will be a charge.

What if my roommate and I do not get along? - Your RA will give you and your roommate a Roommate Contract when you move in. Roommate Contracts are designed to establish boundaries that are agreed upon by the roommates.  It is highly recommended that the Roommate Contracts are filled out at the beginning of the year.  If you do not receive a roommate contract please ask your Resident Advisor for one for you and your roommate to complete.  Please Read the following steps to building roommate relations:

Building Roommate Relations

Step 1 - Spend Time and Be Open It is important for all roommates to spend time together --- taking some time to listen and talk with each other at the beginning helps get the year off to a good start. Below are some suggestions on how to get talking. Talk about hobbies, interests, background and academic major. Find your expectations for the year (Discuss grades, career goals, communication with each other, and other ideas.) Establish roommate expectations (Discuss housekeeping duties, cleanliness, messages, sharing items.) Let the other person know how you got along with other roommates. Announce ideal sleeping conditions and class schedules. Volunteer for basic room cleaning like emptying the trash and sweeping. Discuss guest gender and guest visitation times. Describe the environment in which you study best. Discuss religious beliefs and some of your personal values. Drug and alcohol usage should be discussed. Make a way to resolve conflicts when they happen.

Step 2 - Intervention An essential part of an education at Marshall University is to appreciate, understand and live with a variety of people. Each roommate owes the other the courtesy of listing and talking through their problems -- compromise is important. Remember ... nothing can take place of roommate-to-roommate verbal communication. Your Resident Advisor (RA) is prepared to deal with problems between roommates. If problems surface, roommates should not hesitate to talk with their RA --- Roommate problems do not easily resolve themselves. Many major conflict situations can be adverted or lessened if roommates take action quickly.

Step 3 - Transfer All attempts will be made to resolve roommate conflicts. However, room transfers will be made on a space-available basis when conflicts can not be resolved. The official transfer period begins after the second full week of classes.

How do I change rooms? - If you would like to move to another room within your building, talk to your RD.  If you would like to move to another building, you need to talk to the Department of Residence Services.  If you move from a double to a single room you will be billed to cover the price difference.

What is there to do in the Residence Halls? -  The Residence Advisors plan programs on a wide range of topics each semester.  Some of the most popular topics include time management, stress management, counseling related issues, relationship programs, etc.  The programs are generally targeted towards the student population in the Residence Hall.  A new policy has been implemented this semester where at least one program must revolve around an assigned theme.  Programs are a great opportunity to get involved and meet the residents of the building.  Also, there is a Residence Hall Association (RHA) within each hall.  RHA has meetings once to four times per month to discuss what's needed within that building.  They do fundraising activities and they also do programming.  Any resident can join RHA. Talk to your Resident Advisor or Resident Director if you're interested.

What measures are taken to ensure security within the Residence Halls? -  Marshall University aims to make the residence halls as safe as possible.  Marshall University offers door alarms, Residence Hall Monitors, police patrols, Project ID, guest sign-in and registration, duty rounds by RA and RD, educational programs and campus ID cards.  As an added measure of safety, please keep your door locked at all times.

What do I do if I want to have a visitor(s)? -  The visitation and guest policy is intended to allow students the opportunity to study and socialize with peers.  However, procedures are in place to ensure the safety of the residents.  Residents may visit within the same hall 24 hours a day, with the exception of Holderby Hall, Willis Hall and Haymaker Hall where any residents of the same sex may visit 24 hours a day.  In all halls same sex guests may visit 24 hours a day.  Opposite sex visitation follows regular visitation hours.  Regular visitation hours are:  Monday – Thursday 11:00 am to 11:00 pm  Friday – Sunday they are open 24 hours until 11:00 pm on Sunday.  This means members of the opposite sex can stay throughout the nights on the weekend.  Laidley Hall residents have visitation privileges in their hall 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  All guests must be properly registered at the front desk.  The guest is required to present a picture ID.  Visitation hours and policies may change at the beginning and end of the semester and during breaks.

How do I receive my mail? -  You are assigned a mailbox and given your mailbox key at the time of check in.  Mailboxes are located on the first floor of your residence hall.  The Desk Coordinator is responsible for placing your mail in your mailbox.  Mail is delivered Monday through Saturday, normally between noon and 2:00 pm.  If you receive a package, a package note will be placed in your mailbox and you can pick your package up at the front desk.  You must present a form of ID in order to receive your package.  A Signature Release Form must be filled out at the time of check in in order for the Desk Coordinator to be able to sign for a package in your absence.  If for any reason you do not receive your mail please ask your Desk Coordinator for a Mail Irregularity Form.  Filling out this form will help the postal service track down your mail.  If you would like to send or have items sent to your room your address will be the following:

     Your Name

     Room # and Building Name

     Marshall University

     Huntington, WV 25755

How do I apply for break housing? -  If you need to stay on campus during an academic break, you must apply for break housing with the Department of Residence Services.  Break housing is available in limited halls: Twin Towers East for males and Twin Towers West for females.  Take this into account when you declare your hall preference on your housing application.  Break housing requests will be granted based on the need of the student and number of spaces available.  The Department of Residence Services reserves the right to place limits upon who qualifies for break housing.  Details are available at the front desk of each hall prior to the break.  There is a daily charge for break housing during the winter break.  No food service is available during the breaks.  You will not have to move all the belongings from your room until you move out permanently.  Students who miss the break housing deadline may be denied housing.

Where do I do laundry? - We have laundry facilities in each of our Residence Halls.  For most halls there is one washer and one dryer per floor.  In Marshall Commons there is one facility located on the first floor with six washers and six dryers. If you pay using coins it is $1.25 to wash and $0.75 to dry.  If you pay using your Student ID card it's only $1.00 to wash and $0.60 to dry. 

Are there vending machines in the Residence Halls? - Every hall has vending machines located on the first floor.  Most are equipped with a points reader so you can use your student IDs to pay for items out of the machines.  If you need a refund from a vending machine, you will need to go to Auxiliary Services between 8:00 am- 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.  It is located in the Memorial Student Center Room 2W6.

Helpful Huntington Hints -  There are many things to do in Huntington and its surrounding areas.  Huntington has a taxi service, buses, an airport, and a train station if you need transportation.  To see some of Huntington's attractions you can visit the City of Huntington Homepage.  There are also shopping and movies at the Huntington Mall and Pullman Square; it is open from 10 am-9 pm Monday through Saturday and noon-6 pm on Sunday.  There are also movie theatres located in downtown Huntington.  There are many other activities listed on the Marshall Homepage.  To find out what else Huntington has to offer, talk to a Resident Advisor or Resident Director.

Important Links - http://www.marshall.edu/www/international.asp  This link shows all of Marshall Universities International Programs and Resources

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